Hauck & Aufhäuser supports for the first time the start-up accelerator program Protechting by Fosun, Fidelidade and Luz Saúde, which is already starting its third edition this year. On March 15, the launch of Protechting in Germany was announced during a business lunch with relevant industry participants at TechQuartier in Frankfurt. Located in the heart of Frankfurt, TechQuartier provides access to a valuable network of start-ups, mentors and investors and serves as a creative arena and meeting point for entrepreneurs and innovators from various industries.
Hauck & Aufhäuser will actively support the Protechting Program for the first time, seeking for technologically meaningful additions to its own banking business. The best Fintech of this edition of Protechting will have the opportunity to complete a 12-week pilot phase at Hauck & Aufhäuser and to further develop its own business model with the help of experts from the bank. This is why TechQuartier provided the perfect setting for the presentation of the Accelerator program as also Hugo Panquin, Marketing Manager of TechQuartier, explained in his welcome address to the guests.
Then Michael Bentlage, CEO of Hauck & Aufhäuser and Global Partner of Fosun, went deeper into the description of the Protechting program and its process. The Accelerator consists of various initiatives designed to promote a culture of innovation and collaboration and ultimately to increase the success rate of business models. After an eight-week training phase, the young entrepreneurs have the opportunity to convince a jury of experts of the success potential of their business model. The best projects are rewarded with a tour through China and gain access to Fosun and its associated companies. Furthermore, the best business model will receive a prize of 10,000 euros.
Hauck & Aufhäuser is playing an active role in the project for the first time. “We are extremely pleased to be able to participate in this year’s edition of Protechting alongside Fosun, Fidelidade and Luz Saúde. For Hauck & Aufhäuser, this project not only offers the opportunity to support young companies, but also enables us to look for possible additions to our own business model and to further expand our strategic pillars of digitization and internationalization,” concluded Michael Bentlage.
On behalf of Fosun, Alan Liu, General Manager of Wealth Management Department and Co-Executive Chief Representative of Frankfurt office introduced the audience to Fosuns history, which can be described as a typical start-up story. “In 1992 four students founded Fosun with 4,000 $ and now the company is one of the largest global companies with Chinese roots. The entrepreneurial spirit is part of our DNA an we encourage the youth to set up their own business. Fosun is looking forward to support the growth of small companies through innovative initiatives like Protechting.”
At the end of the session, Harald Patt, Managing Director of Fosun’s Wealth Management Department, did a presentation on Fintech innovation, introducing the fintech ecosystem in Germany and China and it’s impact on the banking industry. Finally, the Tech Quartier offered enough space for interesting discussions with the guests present – a mixture of entrepreneurs, journalists and start-ups. The main focus was on the promotion of the project. Because from the start, start-ups with innovative business ideas from the Insurtech, Fintech and Healthtech sectors can apply for the Accelerator program until 29 April. Interested entrepreneurs can obtain more information on the process, objectives and content of Protechting at any time at www.protechting.com.